Air conditioner



Feb. 15, 1966 Original Filed Aug. 10, 1960 F. J ACQBS AIR CONDITIONER a Sheets-Sheet 1 RESERVOIR f" BOI LER CONVERTER \JACKETED CONDENSER E APQRATOIZ INVE NTOIZ FRED JACOBS I BY 5M. flwz,

HIS ATTORNEY.

Feb. 15, 1966 Original Filed Aug. 10, 1960 F- JACOBS AIR CONDITIONER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w W CQNDENSER E APoQA'roR I57 1 |5\ O 323 2 EVAPORATOR Fl; 6

Q sucTuoN g l I FLLHD SUPPLY g 7 (HOT or: com) CONDENSER a HEAHNG con. mscHAReE q I REVERSE Q n 4 RETURN m u E INVENTOR'.

CoNbEN sATe FRED JAco 55,

H ATTORNEY.

Feb. 15, 1966 F. JACOBS 3,235,000

AIR CONDITIONER Original Filed Aug. 10, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 o o i I I32 o o I O o l5! a o o i: I O q Q I 5i 0 o I2 ma "4l45 1297 Il s 6 INVENTDR:

FRED JACOBS By HIS ATTO RNEY,

United States Patent 3,235,000 AIR CONDITIONER Fred Jacobs, Plainview, N.Y., assignor to I. W. Air Conditioning Company, Inc., Bronx, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Aug. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 48,689. Divided and this application May 2, 1963, Ser. No. 277,541

2 Claims. (Cl. 16550) This is a division of application Serial No. 48,689, filed August 10, 1960.

The invention relates to air conditioners, and relates more particularly to air conditioning systems which are usable for space heating as well as for space cooling. Still more particularly, the invention relates to air conditioning systems in which subdivided space, such as an apartment or even a single room, is individually controlled and has its own individual condenser, evaporator, and compressor, but the cooling or heating energy is supplied by a central source.

Individual air conditioning units, such as window units, are known, but they have the disadvantage that they require placement at or near the outside, so as to utilize the outside temperature for cooling.

On the other hand, air conditioning systems are known in which an entire large space, such as a whole building, is air conditioned from a central source. This has the disadvantage that individual control is at a minimum, and the cost for the individual units such as an apartment or a room is difficult to apportion.

It is accordingly, among the principal objects of the invention to provide an air conditioning system where the source of cooling or heating is centrally controlled, but the individual units are controlled individually.

It is another object of the invention to provide an air conditioning system which equally well lends itself to cooling, dehumidification, and heating.

It is still another object of the invention to provide for such an air conditioning system in which the individual units need not intercommunicate with the outside air and yet are individually controllable.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following specification and in part will be obvious therefrom without being specifically referred to, the same being realized and attained as pointed out in the claims hereof.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical elevational view of an air conditioning system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a large scale schematic sectional View through a detail of one of the units;

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the individual air conditioning units with the damper in position for cooling and dehumidification;

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the damper in position for either dehumidification or for heating;

FIG. 5 is a large scale schematic sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, but embodying a modification;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an air conditioning unit, similar to FIG. 3, but embodying the modifications of FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 7, but showing the damper in the position of FIG. 4.

In carrying the invention into effect in the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, and referring now particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided a structure to be air conditioned, such as a building 11. A series of air conditioning units 12, 13, 14, and 16, are provided, for instance one for each floor, or one for each apartment, or one for each room. While four units have been shown in the drawing, and will be described in this description, this number in no Way is intended as any limitation.

A conduit 17 for a heat transfer fluid is provided, which has a feed branch 18 and a return branch 19. A first heat exchanger, such as a boiler or converter 21 is connected between the return branch 19 and the feed branch 18 of the fluid conduit 17. A pump 22 may be provided at the end of the return branch 19.

The heat transfer fluid to be circulated in the conduit 17 may be a gas or a liquid, for instance a high temperature liquid of the type known under the trademark Dowtherm, or the heat transfer fluid will comprise water. In most instances water will be used.

The units 12, 13, 14, and 16 are connected in parallel to the feed branch 18 and to the return branch 19, so that each unit will receive and discharge the heat transfer fluid.

When the conduit 17 is used to supply heat energy to the unit, the heat transfer fluid will be passed through a valve 23 and a storage tank 24 and will then be heated by the boiler 21.

When, on the other hand, the system is used for cooling, the heat transfer fluid will merely pass through the unheated boiler 21 and thus will not be heated; the valve 23 will be closed, and in the return branch 19 the heat transfer fluid will pass through a valve 26 and through a second heat exchanger, such as a cooling tower 27, and from there be returned to the pump 22 for recirculation.

The valve 26 and the cooling tower 27 are arranged in parallel with the valve 23 and the storage tank 24. One of the valves 23 and 26 will be open, and the other closed, thereby determining whether the heat transfer fluid bypasses the tower or the storage tank.

Each of the units 12, 13, 14 and 16 comprises a housings 28(FIG. 3), that may have in one side wall openings or louvers 29, 31, and 32. Each of these openings comprises one or more apertures. On the interior each unit has a closed conduit 33 for a heat transfer medium, such as a refrigerant for instance of the type known under the trademark Freon. The conduit 33 comprises a condenser 34, a compresser 36, and an evaporator 37, and the heat transfer medium is circulated through these elements of the closed conduit 33 in a manner Well known to those skilled in this art. The compressor may be driven by an individual electric motor 38, and there may also be provided motor driven fans, but these have not been shown.

In accordance with the invention, the heat transfer fluid (the water, for example, flowing through the conduit 17) is delivered into each unit through the medium of feed branch 18, and into heat exchange relation with the heat transfer medium flowing through the closed conduit 33. For instance, when a cooling heat transfer fluid such as cold water is used, it will cause the condensation of the refrigerant in each unit. Where, on the other hand, a hot heat transfer fluid such as hot water is used, it will necessarily cause the refrigerant or heat transfer medium to be heated; it will be observed, however, that such heat- "a a) ing of the refrigerant heat transfer medium within the limits of the instant space heating is in no way detrimental to the commercial refrigerants.

For effective cooling, the heat transfer fluid is delivered into heat exchange relation with the condenser 34 of the closed conduit 33 to remove heat from the heat transfer medium. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, this is accomplished by guiding the heat transfer fluid in a jacket 39 (FIG. 2) about at least a portion of a coil 41 of the condenser 34. The jacket 39 includes pipes 42 that surround some of the pipes of the coil 41 concentrically, and preferably the refrigerant or heat transfer medium and the heat transfer fluid (such as water, for example), flow in opposite directions, as shown in FIG. 2. The structure 51 which includes the jacket 39 and the coil 41 furthermore includes a series of parallel fins 43 which serve as means to reinforce the structure and to support the coils, and also to provide a large surface for heat dissipation. The conduit 33 furthermore includes a valve or constriction 44 for expansion of the refrigerant, enabling it to emerge as a mixture of liquid and vapor at a lower temperature as is well known in the art. The conduit 33 also includes a pipe 46 between the contriction 44 and the evaporator 37 which receives heat from the enclosure to be cooled, thus converting the remaining liquid to vapor, a pipe 47 that leads from the evaporator 37 to the compressor 36, and a pipe 48 that connects the compressor 36 with the condenser coil 41. The evaporator 37 is also coiled, as best shown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 3, air to be conditioned (heated or cooled) is drawn into the housing 28, through the second opening 31, as shown by an arrow A, from the space, such as a room in which the air conditioner unit is located. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as through the medium of a fan or blower. The air in the housing 28 is then propelled asshown by arrows B through the evaporator coil 37, and is expelled back into the space or room through the open:- ing 32, as shown by an arrow C. Alternatively, the air may be expelled upwardly in the direction of an arrow D through an opening 35 in the top wall of the housing 28. The air may be expelled through the openings 32 and 35, or through only one of these and the other he covered by a lid (not shown).

A damper or damper bafiie 48 is guided on the interior of the housing 28 between a lower position (FIG. 3) wherein it covers the opening 29 and, respectiively, an upper position (FIG. 4) wherein it covers the opening 31.

For cooling and dehumidification, the system will have a cool heat transfer fluid circulating in the conduit 17, and the arrangement is as shown in FIG. 3. The air is then drawn in and expelled as explained in the foregoing.

For dehumidification with only little cooling, or for heating, the arrangement will be that of FIG. 4, where the damper baflle 48 will cover the opening 31, and air will be drawn in from the space or room through the opening 29 in accordance with an arrow E and be drawn past the coils 41 of the condenser 34, and be expelled past the evaporator 37 in accordance with the arrows B and C, or D, similar to the foregoing. In the position of FIG. 4, in contrast to the cooling position of FIG. 3, a hot heat transfer fluid circulates through the conduit 33.

The unit in the position of FIG. 4 may also be used for convection heating without using the blower, letting air circulate as indicated by the arroks E, B, and C, and circulating a hot heat transfer fluid in the conduit 33.

In accordance with a preferred arrangement (FIGS. 8), wherein like parts are indicated by like reference characters, but wherein the prefix l is added, the coils of the condenser 134 and of the evaporator 137 are in a single plane, and form part of a structure 151 and are interconnected and supported by the fins 143 which extend throughout the length of the combined condenser and evaporator coils. This arrangement has the advantage that when the combined structure 151 is mounted in the: unit, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, water condensate: that may collect on the evaporator coils 137 during cool-- .ing operation of the unit will descend along the fins 143- vand Will cool the condenser 134 near the bottom of thestructure 151, as said bottom is near the condenser and consequently during cooling operation is warm, as is well .known to the skilled artisans.

In the summer, the conduit will convey the heat transfer fluid, such as water, through the cooling tower 27, to effectuate its cooling. The compressor 36 will be actuzated, and the present invention will air condition the air in the building 11 by reducing the temperature to the -=desired value. In the winter, the boiler 21 will heat the heat transfer fluid, the compressor 36 will be inactive, :and the present invention will air condition the air by increasing the temperature to the desired value.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a damper baflle 148 is provided that may be shifted between an upper position (FIG. 7) wherein it covers the middle opening 131 and, respectively, a lower position (FIG. 8) wherein it covers the lower opening 129. For cooling and dehumidification the baffle 148 will be in the upper position of FIG. 7 and the air will be drawn in and expelled through the evaporator coil 137 in accordance with the arrows A, B, and C. For dehumidification with but little cooling, and for heating, the baflie 148 will be in the lower position of FIG. 8 and the air will be drawn in and expelled through the condenser coil 142, which now functions as .a heating coil, through the coil 137, through which no heat transfer medium is flowing since the compressor 136 is inactive during the winter, in accordance with the arrows E, B, and C.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. An air conditioning system, comprising, in combination:

a fluid conduit for a heat transfer fluid having a feed branch, and a return branch;

a heat exchanger disposed in the feed branch of said fluid conduit; and

a plurality of air conditioning units disposed in interconnected parallel relationship with said feed and return branches, and each comprising:

a housing;

.a closed conduit for a heat transfer medium disposed within said housing;

said closed conduit comprising:

a single coil defining a condenser and a heating coil;

an evaporator coil;

a compressor; and

guide means disposed in heat exchange relationship with respect to at least a portion of said condenser or heating coil, for guiding said heat transfer fluid in heat exchange relationship with respect to said heat transfer medium; and comprising:

a jacket;

said condenser or heating coil and said evaporator coil being disposed substantially along a common plane; said housing comprising:

one entrance defining an inlet to the condenser or heating coil, enabling the air entering the housing to flow through said coil, and another entrance defining a by-pass, enabling the air entering the housing to flow therethrough and by-pass said condenser or heating coil;

at least one exit defining an outlet from the housing for the conditioned air, and being disposed so as to enable the air to exit the housing after flowing through said evaporator coil; and

a damper movable relative to the housing between a position in which the damper is disposed adjacent to the by-pass inlet, enabling the air to flow through the condenser or heating coil, and another position in which the damper is disposed adjacent the inlet to the condenser or heating coil, enabling the air to enter the housing and by-pass said condenser or heating coil.

2. An air conditioning system, comprising, in combination:

a fluid conduit for a heat transfer fluid having a feed branch and a return branch;

a heat exchanger disposed in the feed branch of said fluid conduit; and

a plurality of air conditioning units disposed in interconnected parallel relationship with said feed and return branches, and each comprising;

a housing;

a closed conduit for a heat transfer medium disposed within said housing;

said closed conduit comprising:

a single coil defining a condenser and a heating coil;

an evaporator coil;

a compressor; and

guide means disposed in heat exchange relationship with respect to at least a portion of said condenser or heating coil, for guiding said heat transfer fluid in heat exchange relationship with respect to said heat transfer medium; and wherein:

said housing comprises:

one entrance defining an inlet to the condenser or heating coil, enabling the air entering the housing to flow through said coil, and another entrance defining a by-pass, enabling the air entering the housing to flow therethrough and by-pass said condenser or heating coil;

at least one exit defining an outlet from the housing for the conditioned air;

a damper movable relative to the housing between a position in which the damper is disposed adjacent to the by-pass inlet, enabling the air to flow through the condenser or heating coil, andanother position in which the damper is disposed adjacent the inlet to the condenser or heating coil, enabling the air to enter the housing and by-pass said condenser or heating coil.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,181,354 11/1939 Winters 39 X 2,229,304 1/1941 Shurtlefr 165103 X 2,432,316 12/1947 Kemler 16529 X 2,658,357 11/1953 Smith 62-513 X 2,715,515 8/1955 Stair 16530 X 2,909,043 10/1959 Baker et al 62186 X FOREIGN PATENTS 379,430 9/1932 Great Britain.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES SUKALO, Examiner. 

1. AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A FLUID CONDUIT FOR A HEAT TRANSFER FLUID HAVING A FEED BRANCH, AND A RETURN BRANCH; A HEAT EXCHANGER DISPOSED IN THE FEED BRANCH OF SAID FLUID CONDUIT; AND A PLURALITY OF AIR CONDITIONING UNITS DISPOSED IN INTERCONNECTED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID FEED AND RETURN BRANCHES, AND EACH COMPRISING; A HOUSING; A CLOSED CONDUIT FOR A HEAT TRANSFER MEDIUM DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING; SAID CLOSED CONDUIT COMPRISING: A SINGLE COIL DEFINING A CONDENSER AND A HEATING COIL; A EVAPORAOR COIL;L A COMPRESSOR; AND GUIDE MEAND DISPOSED IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID CONDENSER OR HEATING COIL, FOR GUIDING SAID HEAT TRANSFER FLUID IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID HEAT TRANSFER MEDIUM; AND COMPRISING: A JACKET; SAID CONDENSER FOR HEATING COIL AND SAID EVAPORATOR COIL BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG A COMMON PLANE; SAID HOUSING COMPRISING: ONE ENTRANCE DEFINING AN INLET TO THE CONDENSER OR HEATING COIL, ENABLING THE AIR ENTERING THE HOUSING TO FLOW THROUGH SAID COIL, AND ANOTHER ENTRANCE DEFINING A BY-PASS, ENABLING THE AIR ENTERING THE HOUSING TO FLOW THERETHROUGH AND BY-PASS SAID CONDENSER OR HEATING COIL; AT LEAST ONE EXIT DEFINING AN OUTLET FROM THE HOUSING FOR THE CONDITIONING AIR, AND BEING DISPOSED SO AS TO ENABLE THE AIR TO EXIT THE HOUSING AFTER FLOWING THROUGH SAID EVAPORATOR COIL; AND A DAMPER MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE HOUSING BETWEEN A POSITION IN WHICH THE DAMPER IS DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE BY-PASS INLET, ENABLING THE AIR FLOW THROUGH THE CONDENSER OR HEATING COIL, AND ANOTHER POSITION IN WHICH THE DAMPER IS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE INLET TO THE CONDENSER OR HEATING COIL, ENABLING THE AIR TO ENTER THE HOUSING AND BY-PASS SAID CONDENSER OR HEATING COIL. 